A New Key to Weight Loss?

Weight loss is hard for everyone, no doubt about it, but there's one advantage that those who are able to shed pounds successfully might have: higher sympathetic nervous system activity, according to a new study.

Australian researchers measured the resting sympathetic nerve activity of 42 overweight or obese people who were taking part in a 12-week weight-loss program (cutting daily caloric intake by 30 percent). They found that those who were able to lose weight has much higher sympathetic nerve activity than those who struggled with dropping pounds. Why does this body system matter? It regulates certain body functions, such as resting metabolic rate and the use of calories from food intake.

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Two things to take into consideration: the study was small and is still yet to be published (scheduled for the February 2012 issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism). However, it's definitely an interesting idea to add to the growing research of why some people are more apt to successfully lose weight.